Indiana's Lamar Wilkerson Shifts Focus to Defense in Pre-Draft Workouts

Lamar Wilkerson, a standout guard from Indiana University, is looking to broaden his skill set as he prepares for the 2026 NBA draft. While he has gained a reputation as a prolific scorer during his college career, Wilkerson aims to highlight his defensive abilities in upcoming workouts.

During his time at Indiana, the 24-year-old earned second-team All-Big Ten honors, averaging an impressive 20.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and one steal per game while shooting 37.8% from beyond the arc. His scoring achievements placed him 18th nationally, marking the best scoring average for a Hoosier since Eric Gordon in the 2007-08 season. Wilkerson also notched a career-high of 44 points in a game last December, setting a program record with ten three-pointers—an impressive feat that led all Big Ten players last season.

In a recent workout with the Golden State Warriors, Wilkerson expressed his desire to become a "two-way playmaker." He stated, "Where I've been playing, I've always been labeled as a scorer, but I'm trying to be a two-way playmaker. So, that is what I'm trying to get better at."

Wilkerson also participated in the G League combine last month, where he averaged 6.5 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists across two scrimmages. His shooting skills shone through as he went 18-for-25 in the three-point star drill and achieved a maximum vertical leap of 34 inches.

Having already completed four workouts, Wilkerson anticipates 8-9 more before the draft, scheduled for June 23-24. He views these sessions as crucial opportunities to demonstrate his abilities. "I'm an everyday guy," he remarked. "I bring energy on both sides of the ball and, of course, the reason they got me here is shooting the ball and being able to make shots. Continuing to be me, but also incorporating the stuff that teams want to see."